Tunnel-kiln



P. A. MEEHAN.

TUNNEL KILN.

APPLICATION FILED 050. 5, 19x9 Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

INVENTOR 02ml a new MM 21W M ATTORNEY 111 I III! P. A. MEEHAN.

TUNNEL KILN.

APPUCATIUN FILED DEC. s. 1919.

Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR AM a m.

\ gma/MM w ATTORNEY P. A. MEEHAN.

TUNNEL KILN.

APPLICATION FILED mzc.s. 1919.

Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHE T 3. 4

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DRESSLER TUNNEL NEW YORK.

KILNS, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y,, A CORIOBATION F TUNNEL-KILN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

Application filed December 5. 1919. Serial No. 342.723.

To all whom it may conccrn: V

Be it known that I, PAUL A. Mamnn, c|t1- zen of the United States, and resident oi:

New Castle, in the county of Lawrence and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tunnel-Kilns, of which the following is a. specification.

My present invention consists in a kiln or furnace especially devised for use where it is desirable to subject material to a definite and relatively high. temperature without either a gradual heating up or cooling off of the material. A specific object of my invention is to provide for the exposure and ellicient firing of bath tubs, metal plates or the like to bake enamel thereon in a furnace or kiln constructed along the lines of a continuous tunnel kiln of the well-known Dressler type. The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and torm im a part of this specification. For a betirr understanding of the invention, however, and the advantages possessed by it reference should bc had to the accompanying drawings and dcscriptive matter in which I have illustrated a )referred embodiment of my. invention.

f the drawings Figure l is a se iona]. plan;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional clovation;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on tlu broken line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 4. and 5 are views taken similarly to Figs. 1 and 2 respectively illustrating a modification; and

Fig. 6 illustrates a. modified form of conn bastion chamber construction.

in the drawings, and referring: tins-i to the construction shown in Figs. 1. 2 and 3, represents the furnace or kiln chamber JlOlHl. and and A cud extensions thereof. The masonrx walls 13 ot' the kiln chamber are made and shaped generally as in the welldmrm'n Drcssler continuous tunn lhiln, bcnchw l3 being formed at the sides of the pathway for the go ds carrier truck or trucks which run on track rails E. while combustion chambers l) and DA are located on the benches B at the opposite sides oi the path wa for the goods X placed on the 'carrier C. The walls'of the combustion chan1- ber D are made refractory tile sections at with air circulatiin channels formed therein as is usual in the Dressler kiln. 1n the particular construction shown, there is provided at one end of the combustion chamber D an air inlet 1) and a combustible gas inlet D while at the opposite end there is provided an outlet D through which products of combustion are drawn by stack or fan suction. Except for the inlet and outlet ports the ends of the c-on'ibustion chamber are closed. ;'L space is left between the outlet end of the combustion chamber D and the adjacent end wall of the body portion of the kiln chamber A and through this space and a doorway B in the side wall of the kiln chamber goods may be passed into the kiln chamber and placed upon the carrier (l or be removed from the latter. The doorway B is non mally closed by a door F. Advantagcously the door F may be balanced to facilitate operation as by means of the counterweight I, the flexible element H connecting it to the door F and the )ulleys J over which the element H runs. The combustion chamber D A. may be and is shown as being identical in construction with the combustion chamber 1), but the inlets D and D thereto are located at the opposite end of the chamber A from that 2t which inlets D and D oi' the chamber are located. A space is leli between the outlet end of the combustion chain A bcr DA and the adjacent end of the body of the furnace chamber A and a doorway It normally closed by door G which may be constructed and operated exactly as is the door F are provided to permit the insertion and removal of goods past the outlet end of the combustion chamber DA.

AdvantaVeously. as shown, the goods carrier is o t a length approximately equal to the combined length of the goods chamber A and one of the two extensions;\ and A thereof which ordinarily will boot equal 19 gth. As shown, the goods carrier is in theform of a single car having wheels at its ends which run on the track rails l). The goods carrier C is given a reciprocat ingmotion, by suitable means, those shown comprising a rack bar securerhto the under side of the oods carrier and. in mesh with an idler gear the latter in turn meshing with a spur gear carried by a shaft L rotated through suitable speed reducing gears by an appropriate prime mover such as a reversible electric motor M. The extensions A and A" oi the kiln chamber are so shaped and proportioned as to be practically tilled by the good. carrier when the latter is entered therein. The carrier in any position prcrents any appreciable circulation of the heated atmospher in the upper portion'ol the body o i the kiln chamber into the ex tensions and of that chandler and thus protects the track rails ii and the under portion of the goods carrier from exposure to the high temperature prevailing in the upper portion of the kiln chamber A proper.

In the operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1,2 and 5. a bath tub X or other were to he treated is inserted into the kilu' through the doorway B for example, and placed upon the goods carrier when the latter is in the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and P). after which the carrier (3 is moved into the dotted l ne position. This brings the ware just placed upon the carrier 4 to the central position of the kiln where it is subjected to the high temperature resulting ifrom the passage in opposite directions of the burning gases through the overlapping portions of the two combustion chambers. When the goods thus carried into the central portion of the kiln chamber A have been exposed to the high temperature it the center oi the kiln tor the proper in 1a m al. the door (i is opened and other goods e uiring treatment are passed intb the kiln chamber through the doorway B and placed upon the :uljacent portion of the carrier}? whi l. ithen -hiltcd back to the full line position -hown in Figs. 1 and 2, whereupon the ware previou ly inserted through the door-wa l? lii removed through tho doorway. o auation is repeat d at regular i!llel i'n' in the normal operation of the k ln. The apmratus u ed in thcmauncr i.: \"i'ill(*li iln oudy adapted for the rapid and lii icnt iii'igng oi the ware to be tr ated -irr' ati all thncex ept during the short inn-Hal icqui ed for shifting the goods care-Kr from one po ition to the other. H me lliih the high temperature position .i ah. timer illi' kiln. Thc doorways U ml l5 may b omparativcki small and no 1-1 opt-nod but for brief intervals to porno; c insertion and removal of the x ii-- .2 l arranged athey arc at the oppn-ilr Nth oi ln o i-iiappilig ('(titllb of .til" wnil n ion cham ers l and D.\. the

qwuing of th e doors for short periods at regular intervah does not interfere apprewilh ihr mainrcnanci-r of the high and uniform ianuwralurc desired at the centi portion of the kiln.

in tin znndil'icd hol -nation iilusf'ratcd in Figs. 3 and i the rnd (Kit'llliiih 'i" and A of the kiln chamber and the latter are of the same height. The hot zone or body portion .\A of the kiln chamber and the arra1a.ieme11t of combustion chambers therein differ from the chamber A and combustion chamber arrangement of the construction first described. only in that the combustion chambers D and DA extend substantially the full length of the chamber AA. the doorways B and 13"" in Figs. 4 and 5 being formed in the side walls of the chamber extensions A and A respectively. The doorways B and B are normally closed bydoors FA and GA respectively. In the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 it is immaterial whether the two doorways 15 and B are-at opposite sides of the kiln chamber or both at the same side of the chamber. The oods carrier car CA in Figs. 4 and 5 carries at its 0 posite ends two barrier members or parts and,H and at its center a barrier member or part H formed of refractory material and serving as doors to separate the chamber AA from its end extensions A and A when the carrier CA is in either of its two stationary positions. Thus when the carrier CA is in the full line position shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the chamber AA'is separated from the end extension A. by the door H and from the extension A by the door H hen the carrier CA is shifted into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4 the chamber AA is separated from the end extension A" by the door ii and from the extension A by the door H. Preferably, as shown, the tunnel chamber wall B is 'irovided with in-- ternal flange like parts f" at the opposite ends oi the chamber AA which are over-- lapped by the edges of the corresponding doors as shown.

The ware X to be treated is alternately inserted past the two doors FA and (ii into the two ware receiving and discharging zones formed by the kiln portions A and A at the opposite ends of the hot zone and each piece of ware is sulisequently removed from the kiln through the same doorway l v which it entered the kiln. The doors H. II and H effectively minimize circulation of the kiln atmosphere between the hot zone and the end zones A" and A Moreover. the doors H. H and H effectually prevent direct communication between the cham er and the external atmosphere when the doors FA and G.\ are opened for the insertion and removal of ware.

in place of the ordinary combustion chain her construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, I may advantageously employ the special construction shown somewhat diagrammaticaiii in Fig. (i wherein the combustion chamber l t" is formed with an interval partition i 'a' wreby the flame path in the conr bo-a ion ll i ttlll l is in the form ot a. low}; and

the air and gas inlets and products of com bustion outlet 1 I) and D respectively are all at one end of the combustion chamber. The special form of combustion chamber construction shown in Fig. (i is of especial utility who ,as in the apparatus shown in Figs. i to 5, a combustion chamber of relati vely short overall length is desirable. The special combustion chamber construction shown in Fig. (5 is disclosed in detail and claimed in by co icnding application Serial No. 342,724 filed cc. 5, i919.

\Vhilein accordance with the provisions of the statutes l have illustrated and described the best forms of my invention now known to me, it Will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without dc parting from the spirit of my invention set forth in the appended claims and that certain features of my invention may be sometimes used to advantage without a correspending use of other features.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:--

1. [n a kiln, the combination with a kiln chamber having a ware inlet and egress port and means for maintaining a high temperature zone displaced longitudinally of the kiln from said port, of a carricr adapted to reciprocate in said kiln to alternately carry Ware back and forth between said port and said zone.

2. A ki-ln, the combination with a kiln chamber having a pair of spaced apart inlet and egress ports and means for maintaining a high temperature zone in the kiln between said ports. of a carrier adapted to recipro atc in said kiln to alternately carry ware from each of said ports into said zone and to return ware to the port at which it cutered the kiln.

3. In a kiln comprisin c, a kiln hamber formed with a pathway for a 'oods carrier, means for heating a portion of the kiln chamber intermediate end portions of the chamber and above the pathway for'theware carrier, a ware carrier movable to and fro along an id pathway and having end portions entering the end portions of the kiln (lillfh her and so shaped relatively to the latter as to prevent 'l'ree commani 'ation between the headed portions of th kiln chamber and the portions of the pathway For the ware can r cr at the ends of the latter as the ware carrier is given its to and l'ro movement.

'1. in a kiln. the combination with a kiln chamber comprising a hot zone and another zone a\ one cndbf the hot zone, of a reriproeating: ware carrier adapted to carry ware back and forth between said zones and a barrier part carried by said carrier in position to be moved tron) said second zone into the position at which it obstructs communication between the in, 3 zones as th" are carrier is moved to (.I my \varc 'l'i om said s cond zone into the In t rum.

5. In a kiln, the coinli m lion with a tl u chamber con'iprisine' a ho Loan and a crond zone at one end ol the hot zone, of a reciprocating Ware carrier ailapted to carry Ware back and forth between said zones and provided with two longitudinally displaced barrier parts adapted to alternately obstruct communication betweei'i said zones accord ingly'as the portion of the ware carrier between said barrier parts in one or the other of the two zones.

(5. In a kiln, the combination with a kiln chamber comprising a. hot zone between. end j'ioitions of the kiln chamber, of a reciprocating ware carrier adapted to carry wart back and forth between said zone and each end portion of the kiln chamber and provided with three barrier parts so displaced longitudinally of the kiln chamber from one another that/in one position of the carrier the central and one of the other barrier parts, and in another position of the carrier the third and said central barrier parts obstruct communication between the hot zone and the two end portions of the kiln chamber.

7. In a kiln, the combination with a kiln chamber comprising a hot zone and a second zon at one end. of the hot zone, and

havins .1 internal [langelike projection at the junction of the two zones, of a reciprocating ware carrier adapted to carry Ware back and forth between said zones and pro vidcd with two barrier parts adapted to overlap said flange projection and close communication between said zones accordingly as the portion of the ware carrier between said barrier parts is in one or the other of the two zones.

8. In a kiln, the combination with a kiln chamber comprisin; a hot zone and another zone at one end of the hot zone, and having an internal llang c like projection at the junction of the two zones, of a reciprocating ware carrier adapted to carry ware back and forth. between said zon s and a barrier part on said carrier adapted to overlap said flange projection and close/ coniu'ninication between the two zones :is'the ware carrier is moved to carry ware from said hot zone into said second zone.

fl. in a kiln, the com ination with a kiln chamber comprising a central hot zone and two end zones. each oi approximately the same length as the hot zone, of a reciprocatinn? ware carrier in said chamber oF a length approximately equal to the joint length of the hot :mne and one of the end zones.

ll). In a kiln. the combination with a kiln chamber comprising a central hot zone and two end zones, each. of approximately the same length as the hot zone, of a reciprocating ware carrier in said ehaniher ol :1 length approximately equal to the joint length of the hot zone and one of the end zones, said end zones. being a lateral ware ingress and egress ports.

ll. In a kiln. the eonihinaliou with a kiln ('lltlmln'l eonipriaing a hot Zone and two ware rereiring and diseharging zones. one. at eaeh end of the hot Zone. with a port for the passage of ware through the wall of earh of said ware reeeiring and disrhargii'ig Zones, of a reeiprorating ware rarrier in said chamber of neh length that with one end in front of one of said porta the other end will extend to the remote end of the hot Zone.

12. In a kiln comprising a kiln ehainlier. a pair ofromhnstion ehamhers longitudinally disposed therein side he side hut separated by a pathway for ware and ware carrying means, and supplying air and fuel to. and for witl'idrawing prodnrts o'l' eonn bastion from eaeh Combustion ehamher, the improvement whieh consists, in Mhlt an ar rangement of the two eon'ihiwtion rhanthera with their air and fuel supply and prodorte of combustion withdrawal provisi ns that the burning gases flow longitudinally of the kiln in opposite direetiom through eorresponding portions of the two eonihin-ttion chambers.

13. In a kiln. the combination with a kiln chamber having two lateral inlet and egress ports; forwure displaced longitudinally of the kiln from one another and having: a h t zone between said ports. of a carrier adapted to reeiproeate in said kiln to carry ware hack and forth between said ports and. hot

zone.

H. In 'a kiln. the t-omhination with a kiln ehamher having a body portion. end portions of rednr-ed Cross :M-tion. an inlet and en rees port for ware and a hot Z ne at a dis-- tam-e from said port. of a rarrier adapted o reriproeate in said kiln to rarrv ware had: and i'oi'th hetwe n .--aid port and hot mow and to IPHU'i I oinnn:nieation hetw-en th body and end portions oi the kiln.

15. In a kiln. the c-oinhiuati n with a kiln ehamher. ot' e rnhnstior rhan'iliew l at d at oppoaite sidee oi the h:nnh--rand overlap ping one-another along a portion oi th length of the kiln llfllnlitt' .n'u'l earl: having one end projecting longitudinally ol th kilw eliainher beyond the r-orresponding etli oi the other, mid kiln haniher h:i\in; two inlet and tfll'\' port .nlpn-ent the end of eurh eonihnstion rharoh r whirh is overlapped h the other roinhustion t'lltllltltt'l :liul a t'arrier adapted to rwiprorate in said kiln to ear r mmhawk and forth llt'ltYttl said ports and a portion ol' the kiln i-hanr her lying hetween the orerlappin; porti n-i of the ondnmtion rharn eix i in a kiln. the ('Ulllltllltltllill w ith a kiln rhainher. oi' eoinlinstion ('llttllllM'JS lornted at opposite l l 'lfi ol' the kiln ehamher and overlapping one another along: .1 p rti n of the length of the kiln rhanila'r and a l) harin; one end pulle -ting longitudinalty of the kiln rhamher heyond the eorrespond' inn" tnd ot' th oth r. said kiln haniher haw pig, an inlet and egress port at Ptlt'll side of the kiln and adja ent the end ot the eorre epondin; iltlllllStlHH rhanlher whi 'h isoren lapped h th other rotnhnstion ehainlwr and a Farrier adapted to reriproi-ate hu id kiln to rarry ware ha k and forth between -aid port: and a portion f the kiln rhamher lying: he! ween the (wt-whipping? portions ot the mmhuation rhan'ihers.

1T. Ina kiln. the eomhination with a kiln ehamher. having a body portion with henrhes therein at opposite side? of the kiln sepa rated by a path way for a goods earlier and having redneed end portions: of a cross section approxin'iately the same as said pathway, of combustion ehamhers mounted on said benches said kiln rhanilier having a ware inlet and egress port. adjaeent one end of the portion of the kiln ehamher and :1 ware earrier mounted in said kiln and adapted to reciprocate therein to carry ware from said port to an intermediate portion of the kiln. said earrier being of snrh length and shape as to at all times snlr-tantially restriet eoinniuniration hetween the hodv ot' th kiln and the end portion thereof,

i In a kiln having! a rhamher portion with a doormrr into the same. and a goods arrier roorahhhark and forth through saidiloorway and worrying: FPHtPtl apart door portione adapted to Plow raid doorway when mid r-arrier in one position and the seeond when raid varrier i in a seeond position.

F'igned at New (astle in the eouiit) of liawr nee and Nate of Penn. this 1% day til lh e'tmlitl A. 1). I919.

PAVL illlll illlh' till 

